Scientists at the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge found a trout that eats shrews recently.
The trout was cut open after scientists determine it was going to die and 19 shrews were found inside. The trout was about 19 inches long, according to refuge fisheries biologist Mark Lisac, a “fairly pedestrian” size.
The trout was captured during a rainbow trout project.
“I can’t say for certain that I’ve ever seen a well preserved shrew in a stomach analysis,” Lisac told APRN.
“It’s possible that this fish just happened to be in a good channel and there was a flood event or something and then all of the shrews that got washed into the river weren’t actually swimming. They were probably drowned, and this fish just happened to be in the right spot at the right time,” says Lisac.
The first photo the refuge shared, of the trout next the shrews, has 735 shares so far and over 100 comments.
The refuge shared a second photo showing the trout’s size in relation to a ballpoint pen.
People had different reactions.
“Suddenly lost my appetite for trout,” said Tim Delarm.
“I caught a grayling 2 summers ago with that many shrews in its stomach. I really want to see the shrews swimming in a group across the river. Guess that is why there are mouse flies in fishing,” said Marilyn Watts.
“And I just started eating fish... not anymore!” said Chelly Irizarry.
The Togiak National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is the fourth largest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States at 4.1 million acres.
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